Method of detecting the presence of an insult in an absorbent article
First Claim
1. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
- monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer, wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult;
comparing the electrical property to a wet/dry threshold value to determine a wet characteristic of the article indicating that the article has been previously insulted or a dry characteristic of the article indicating that the article is dry and has yet to be insulted;
if the comparing indicates a dry characteristic of the article, then applying a first test to determine whether an insult has occurred and, if the first test indicates an insult, then applying a second test to the electrical property to determine whether an insult has occurred;
if the comparing determines a wet characteristic of the article, then applying the second test to the electrical property to determine whether a subsequent insult has occurred.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article is disclosed. An electrical property is monitored and the electrical property is compared to a wet/dry threshold value to determine either a wet characteristic or a dry characteristic of the article. If a dry characteristic, then a first and possibly a second test are applied. If a wet characteristic, then the second test is applied. The electrical property is compared to a first threshold value and a second threshold value is set based upon the function of the comparison. A change in the electrical property of the article is monitored to determine if the electrical property has stabilized after activation of an insult alarm.
166 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer, wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult; comparing the electrical property to a wet/dry threshold value to determine a wet characteristic of the article indicating that the article has been previously insulted or a dry characteristic of the article indicating that the article is dry and has yet to be insulted; if the comparing indicates a dry characteristic of the article, then applying a first test to determine whether an insult has occurred and, if the first test indicates an insult, then applying a second test to the electrical property to determine whether an insult has occurred; if the comparing determines a wet characteristic of the article, then applying the second test to the electrical property to determine whether a subsequent insult has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult; comparing the electrical property to a first threshold value; setting a second threshold value as a function of the comparison; comparing the electrical property to a second threshold value to determine whether an insult has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by a wearer wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult; comparing the electrical property to a wet/dry threshold value; applying a first test comparing the electrical property to a first wetness threshold, said first wetness threshold being a function of the comparison of the electrical property to the wet/dry threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of detecting and communicating to a caregiver and/or a wearer the presence of an insult within an absorbent article, said method comprising:
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monitoring an electrical property of the article as the article is being worn by the wearer, wherein the electrical property changes in response to an insult; determining the presence of an insult within the article using the electrical property of the article; activating an insult alarm to notify the caregiver and/or the wearer of the presence of the insult; monitoring a change in the electrical property of the article to determine if the electrical property of the article has substantially stabilized; and returning to said monitoring of the electrical property when the monitored change in the electrical property corresponds the electrical property of the article being substantially stable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification